Help! Maid Issues

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:24:06 GMT

Hiaweh — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:24:06 GMT

When u go n renew at the embassy here, u have to sign a contract n the final clause states that employer has to bear the cost of renewal.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:23:12 GMT

gingersouffle — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:23:12 GMT

Thanks all for your input!

My contract doesn't state much about renewal.

Lucky for me, my maid isn't calculative. She says up to me. She is okay with anything.

Lucky for her, cause we treat her well like part of the family. She is only in charge of house cleaning + laundry. My parents cook and my kids goes childcare. In fact my parents treat her as another of their grandchild cause she is very young (we suspect below the legal age).

Also I think she is happier here than back home, cause she is from a broken home.

So chin chye her + chin chye me = win win for both! :rahrah:

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:07:02 GMT

JJ1111 — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:07:02 GMT

ScaredyMum:
1 question for myself, when the passport of the maid is due, does employer have to bear the cost of renewing the passport? My previous maid's passport was due for renewal before we renewed her contract, so I paid for it. My friend later told me employer not obligated to pay for passport renewal.

Bear the cost of renewal of passport is out of goodwills.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 01:27:55 GMT

ScaredyMum — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 01:27:55 GMT

POA Teacher:
ScaredyMum:
1 question for myself, when the passport of the maid is due, does employer have to bear the cost of renewing the passport? My previous maid's passport was due for renewal before we renewed her contract, so I paid for it. My friend later told me employer not obligated to pay for passport renewal.

Is your maid Indon? Indon PP very cheap to renew now. Less than $100.

Yes Indon. Hwr, are we suppose to pay for them or they pay for the renewal themselves? It's not about the $$, it's the principle. Dun wan them to take advantage of our \"ignorance\" and make us think it is our obligation to pay for them. If we do, it's out of goodwill.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:42:36 GMT

POA Teacher — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:42:36 GMT

ScaredyMum:
1 question for myself, when the passport of the maid is due, does employer have to bear the cost of renewing the passport? My previous maid's passport was due for renewal before we renewed her contract, so I paid for it. My friend later told me employer not obligated to pay for passport renewal.

Is your maid Indon? Indon PP very cheap to renew now. Less than $100.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:06:45 GMT

ScaredyMum — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:06:45 GMT

1 question for myself, when the passport of the maid is due, does employer have to bear the cost of renewing the passport? My previous maid’s passport was due for renewal before we renewed her contract, so I paid for it. My friend later told me employer not obligated to pay for passport renewal.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:04:25 GMT

ScaredyMum — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:04:25 GMT

POA Teacher:
gingersouffle:
[quote=\"ScaredyMum\"]

1) 1) Yes, 15 days of salary + value of 2 way airtix to her hometown.
.
So does it mean for the first month of contract renewal = $450 + additional 15days of salary + value of 2 way airtix?

I think it's like this: Regarding the 1/2 months paid leave- it is similar to the leave that you get from your boss except that they get it only at completion of 2 year contract. It does NOT involve payment of extra $ if when she goes on leave. You just pay her the full salary for her last month, but she works only 1/2 month.
Similarly the airtix is normally one ticket every 2 years.

Since she's only staying on for a few months more, I think you could speak to her and say that it's just a postponement of a few months (for the ticket and the leave)[/quote]Like what is mentioned above, if the maid takes her home leave, DON'T have to give her extra. Just pay her the usual 1 month salary but she works abt half a month.

If she is not taking her home leave, have to pay her the usual 1 month salary + 14 or 15 days pay + $$ for return air tix to her home town. This should be in your contract, double check. I know mine is spelt out clearly in the contract.

As for the airtix $$, can jus search for the cheapest airtix price, print out as a \"proof\" and if both parties agree on the value, that's it.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:43:28 GMT

POA Teacher — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:43:28 GMT

gingersouffle:
ScaredyMum:

1) 1) Yes, 15 days of salary + value of 2 way airtix to her hometown.
.
So does it mean for the first month of contract renewal = $450 + additional 15days of salary + value of 2 way airtix?

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:29:49 GMT

POA Teacher — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:29:49 GMT

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Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:43:02 GMT

straffan23 — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:43:02 GMT

Largely opinion and \"if I were in your position\"...

Since your situation is quite unique - 6 to 8 months extension and not really a 2-year renewal... You can probably discuss with her what is the lumpsum bonus you will give to her upon completion. This should cover the 14 days' paid leave that she was entitled to plus the cost of her return ticket. Presumable this should also include a one-way ticket home?

You said you will renew the WP yourself. When you get insurance, it's either 12m or 24m. You can probably get a refund if it is less than 6 mths. You need to check. If there is a chance at all that she might come back to work after her leave... maybe, 3 mths later... if you want to help her you can keep the WP open - cheaper for her to \"transfer\" than to go through the agency costs all over again. IMHO, lah... Anyway levy I believe can get waiver for home leave, and insurance already paid and done deal.

gingersouffle:
Hi,
Tagged on this post so that forum won't be so messy with so many similar issues.

My Indon domestic helper contract is going to end Jan 2013. We need her to be around for another 6~8 months and she agrees to this extension. I am unfamiliar with the new MOM ruling since I will be extending her WP on my own.

1) She doesn't want to take home leave. Do I need to compensate her?
2) What is the minimum salary requirement now (for Indon)?
3) Is it compulsory for her to have off day? She doesn't want off day as she has nowhere to go and in fact is quite afraid to go out alone. She is quite sweet looking and has been harassed by Bangladeshi workers before. Can we keep the same arrangement ie paying in lieu?

TIA!

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:18:57 GMT

gingersouffle — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:18:57 GMT

ScaredyMum:

1) 1) Yes, 15 days of salary + value of 2 way airtix to her hometown.
.

So does it mean for the first month of contract renewal = $450 + additional 15days of salary + value of 2 way airtix?

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:48:48 GMT

ScaredyMum — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:48:48 GMT

gingersouffle:
Hi,

Tagged on this post so that forum won't be so messy with so many similar issues.

My Indon domestic helper contract is going to end Jan 2013. We need her to be around for another 6~8 months and she agrees to this extension. I am unfamiliar with the new MOM ruling since I will be extending her WP on my own.

1) She doesn't want to take home leave. Do I need to compensate her?
2) What is the minimum salary requirement now (for Indon)?
3) Is it compulsory for her to have off day? She doesn't want off day as she has nowhere to go and in fact is quite afraid to go out alone. She is quite sweet looking and has been harassed by Bangladeshi workers before. Can we keep the same arrangement ie paying in lieu?

TIA!

1) Yes, 15 days of salary + value of 2 way airtix to her hometown.
2) $450
3) Yes, just pay her in lieu of her off days.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:44:56 GMT

ScaredyMum — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:44:56 GMT

Whitewindy:
Hi,

3) If I do not want to renew her contract, do I still need to pay her 15 days upon completion of contract?

Please advise.

Thanks in advance

When the contract ends and the maid returns to her home country, we do not have to pay her the 15 days anymore. There is no more \"home leave\".

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:43:48 GMT

POA Teacher — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:43:48 GMT

gingersouffle:
Hi,

Tagged on this post so that forum won't be so messy with so many similar issues.

My Indon domestic helper contract is going to end Jan 2013. We need her to be around for another 6~8 months and she agrees to this extension. I am unfamiliar with the new MOM ruling since I will be extending her WP on my own.

1) She doesn't want to take home leave. Do I need to compensate her?
2) What is the minimum salary requirement now (for Indon)?
3) Is it compulsory for her to have off day? She doesn't want off day as she has nowhere to go and in fact is quite afraid to go out alone. She is quite sweet looking and has been harassed by Bangladeshi workers before. Can we keep the same arrangement ie paying in lieu?

TIA!

As far as I know, the only thing new from MOM is the requirement for weekly day off or payment in lieu if the employer requires the maid to work instead of taking the day off.
This is applicable to new maids and maids renewing contract w.e.f 2013. Since your maid's WP is to be renewed in Jan 2013, it would apply to you.

Salary is determined between employer and FDW, within $450 being minimum for new Indon maids (not MOM requirement, but Indon govt requirement)

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:25:14 GMT

gingersouffle — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:25:14 GMT

Hi,

Tagged on this post so that forum won’t be so messy with so many similar issues.

My Indon domestic helper contract is going to end Jan 2013. We need her to be around for another 6~8 months and she agrees to this extension. I am unfamiliar with the new MOM ruling since I will be extending her WP on my own.

1) She doesn’t want to take home leave. Do I need to compensate her?
2) What is the minimum salary requirement now (for Indon)?
3) Is it compulsory for her to have off day? She doesn’t want off day as she has nowhere to go and in fact is quite afraid to go out alone. She is quite sweet looking and has been harassed by Bangladeshi workers before. Can we keep the same arrangement ie paying in lieu?

TIA!

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:00:45 GMT

straffan23 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:00:45 GMT

I always thought the home leave states \"2 weeks\" and not \"half month\", so if you wanna be really precise about it, it is 2 weeks = 14 days. This is paid leave, granted every 2 years (if the maid chooses to renew her contract with you). Otherwise, the contract states that you would need to buy her a one-way ticket home (but there is no mention about having to compensate for the 2 weeks' leave).

My maid is not the highest paid, but she has 2 teenage daughters and I let her take home leave last year and this year during Hari Raya (she just finished her 2-yr contract in May). Last year, I had a lot of leave to clear, so I let her go home for 17 days. This year, 11 days. Both occassions, I paid for her flights and paid her full months' salary. I also gave her traveling allowance - taxi, mrt, KTKLN, airport tax, etc. ($50 last year, $130 this year)

I do retain her current month's salary when she goes for home leave because of 2 reasons:
1. In case she changes her mind and doesn't come back.
2. They usually spend every single penny when going home. Villagers will goto their house to ask for money, loans, gifts, etc!! So, even if she comes back penniless, she will get her current months' salary immediately and not feel so broke!

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:00:43 GMT

autumnbronze — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:00:43 GMT

We paid for normal dental care check.

We paid full month when she went on home leave.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:57:04 GMT

LOLMum — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:57:04 GMT

Whitewindy:

2) The month that she will be on home leave, she will not be paid except home leave of 15 days?

For all my maids, when they went on home leave, I paid them their full salary.

Some people I know paid the maid half a month salary.

For the month that she will be on home leave (15 days), you do have to pay her salary for the rest of the days.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:40:43 GMT

POA Teacher — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:40:43 GMT

Dental care is not an entitlement.

If employer pays, it’s out of goodwill.

Reply to Help! Maid Issues on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:47:21 GMT

mamago — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:47:21 GMT

Whitewindy:
Hi,

Can anyone advise the followings?

1) My domestic helper will be entitled to 15 days leave if I renew her provided she have completed her 2 years contract with me. Am I right?

Yes.

2) The month that she will be on home leave, she will not be paid except home leave of 15 days?

Yes

3) If I do not want to renew her contract, do I still need to pay her 15 days upon completion of contract?

Yes

4) The 15 days home leave is applicable for every 2 years or 1 year?

2 years

5) Dental care for my domestic helper provided she have tooth decays?

Yes

6) In the event she just wants to go for dental check-up (no tooth decays just the normal check up) Do I need to pay for her dental fees?

Goodwill

Please advise.

Thanks in advance